Theodore Parker of Lexington and Ralph Waldo Emerson of Concord were directly linked to the events of April 19, 1775: both men had grandfathers who were involved in the battles that sparked the American Revolution. How did Parker and Emerson view their revolutionary heritage? How did this shape their thinking in the turbulent years leading up to the Civil War? In this lecture, public historian Richard Smith will discuss the literary and spiritual connections between the two men and their two towns. How did Parker and Emerson use their heritage to help change American literature and thought? How did this affect the anti-slavery movement of the 1850s?

This event is sponsored by Lexington History Museums and will be held at The Depot in Lexington, MA. Tickets are $10 for LHM members and $15 for non-members. Find more information and get tickets here.